MOSCOW (ABP) — An Oct. 15 meeting between high-level representatives of Russia’s Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox communities resulted in the scheduling of a historic multi-confessional Christian rally for early next year, according to a Russian Baptist press release. The rally, scheduled…
NPR comments force out NAE’s Cizik
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Backlash over comments about gay rights on a public-radio broadcast has apparently cost a prominent National Association of Evangelicals lobbyist his job. Richard Cizik resigned Dec. 10 as the NAE's vice president for governmental affairs, according to…
OPINION: Regardless of politics, a reason for America to rejoice
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Nov. 5, 2008, was the most improbable day of my 34-year-old life. The unlikely elevation of an African American to the presidency is just the latest episode in what the president-elect himself has called “the unlikely story…
U.S. blessed by God but ‘off track’ in foreign policy, Americans believe
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A new study described as the first of its kind suggests Americans believe the United States is both especially blessed by God and especially responsible to use its power wisely. Echoing the results of another recent poll,…
Dual citizenship
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The forbidden idea of churches and other tax-exempt organizations endorsing political parties or candidates has started to sound like a good one, in recent decades, to many conservative evangelicals in the United States. In fact, a group…
Hot-button culture war issues not so hot for young evangelicals, study shows
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A large study of religious Americans suggests white evangelicals' views on gay rights may be shifting to the left. The survey, which includes one of the largest samples of younger voters' political and religious views ever taken,…
Randel Everett tapped as Texas nominee
DALLAS (ABP) — Randel Everett, who has headed a seminary and served as pastor of prominent churches in four states, is the nominee for the executive director position of the largest statewide Baptist convention. Baptist General Convention of Texas officials…
Former pastor Mike Huckabee aims at White House
The latest long-shot presidential candidate is a Southern Baptist Baby Boomer from Hope, Ark., who served as governor of his home state. But this isn't Bill Clinton, and he isn't a Democrat. Instead, he's a Republican, an ex-pastor and former…
Top evangelical Haggard steps down after allegations from gay prostitute
Ted Haggard, head of the National Association of Evangelicals and a prominent opponent of gay rights, resigned Nov. 2, after a Colorado man came forward with allegations that Haggard paid him for sex and drugs. According to a Colorado Springs,…
Southwestern trustees adopt policy opposing ‘private prayer language’
Trustees at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary overwhelmingly adopted a policy Oct. 17 that puts the school on record opposing charismatic expressions of the Holy Spirit, including so-called “private prayer languages.” Trustees also heard news of one of the largest donations…
Virginia chaplain reprimanded by Navy for disobeying commander’s order
A military jury in Norfolk recommended Sept. 14 that Lt. Gordon Klingenschmitt be docked $250 a month in pay for the next year and sent a letter of reprimand. The day before, they convicted him of violating a superior officer's…
U.S. Baptist volunteers safe, thanks to Lebanese leader
As fighting between Israeli forces and Islamic radicals continued to decimate Lebanon July 24, groups of Baptist volunteers from the United States who had been trapped in Beirut were reported safely evacuated. The American Baptist News Service reported that Jennifer…